{"id":47831,"date":"2026-08-28T17:30:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T16:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=47831"},"modified":"2026-08-28T17:33:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T16:33:47","slug":"ihbc-reports-disappointment-with-unjustified-statutory-role-terminations-for-theatres-gardens-trusts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=47831","title":{"rendered":"IHBC reports disappointment with \u2018unjustified\u2019 statutory role terminations for Theatres & Gardens Trusts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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image: Leazes Park, Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IHBC officers have highlighted their Institute\u2019s disappointment over the decision to remove statutory roles for the Theatres Trust and the Gardens Trust, following recent determinations by government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

IHBC Chair David McDonald said: ‘It is deeply disappointing that the statutory role of both the Gardens Trust and Theatres Trust has been removed. Having worked with both these organisations over many years, I can vouch for the valuable expertise that has been available to planning and heritage professionals.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Whilst the loss of their statutory status must be very disheartening for both organisations, I am sure that the IHBC and its members will continue to work with them collaboratively into the forseeable future’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IHBC\u2019S Policy Committee Chair Roy Lewis said: \u2018The Government’s lamentable decision to terminate the statutory consultee role of The Gardens Trust and the Theatres Trust is not justified.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018No evidence has been provided to show that the organisations have not been proactive or proportionate, or that advice and information has not been provided in a timely manner or commensurate with what is necessary to make development acceptable in planning terms, as claimed in Matthew Pennycook’s announcement.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The responses to the Government’s consultation show that only 6% of respondents supported removal of The Gardens Trust and only 8% supported removal of the Theatres Trust.  This needless action will remove valuable specialist expertise from the planning system, will result in worse planning decisions, and is unlikely to make any material difference to the time taken to determine planning applications.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linden Groves, Director, The Gardens Trust, writes to Gardens Trust supporters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gardens Trust is devastated by the Government\u2019s announcement today that its role as a statutory consultee in the English planning system is being removed. As a result of our collective advocacy over the past year, some protection for historic parks and gardens will still be provided by our being notified of planning applications within parks and gardens, but we are deeply concerned that this will not include applications affected the setting of these special places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The threat to historic parks and gardens by removing the Gardens Trust\u2019s statutory consultee role is removed is huge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n